JSA: Joint Security Area (Collector’s Edition) (4K UHD Review)
- Review Date: Aug 20, 2024
- Format: 4K Ultra HD
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Director
Park Chan-wookRelease Date(s)
2000 (August 7, 2024)Studio(s)
Myung Films/CJ Entertainment (Umbrella Entertainment)- Film/Program Grade: B+
- Video Grade: A-
- Audio Grade: B+
- Extras Grade: A-
Review
[Editor’s Note: This is an Australian 4K Ultra HD import.]
A major success in its home country, JSA: Joint Security Area identified director Park Chan-wook as a cinematic force to be reckoned with. Slick, stylistic, and effective, JSA plays out as a sociopolitical mystery thriller, but on a very human level—highlighting the division between North and South Korea through four characters. The film was so successful, even outgrossing the monster that was Titanic, that it spawned stage musical and TV miniseries adaptations. In North America, Park Chan-wook’s name became more associated with the “Tartan Asia Extreme” series due to the violent nature of The Vengeance Trilogy (Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance, Oldboy, and Lady Vengeance), and later 2013’s Stoker, meaning that JSA was and continues to be underappreciated as a meditation on the effects of war on four young men who manage to put aside their differences, not only to find common ground, but friendship as well.
After the deaths of two North Korean soldiers at a border house in the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), an investigation is opened to discover what actually happened since it involves both North and South Korean soldiers. Brought in to examine the case is a Swiss Korean Army Major, Sophie E. Jean (Lee Young-ae), a neutral party intent on learning the truth. One of the three survivors, South Korean soldier Sergeant Lee Soo-hyeok (Lee Byung-hun), has confessed to the shootings, but the evidence found during the autopsy of Jeong Woo-jin (Shin Ha-kyun) eventually reveals that there was more to it than that. This draws suspicion upon the Sergeant and fellow soldier Private First Class Nam Sung-shik (Kim Tae-woo), both of whom are reluctant to reveal any further information, even as the other North Korean soldier, Sergeant Oh Kyeong-pil (Song Kang-ho), confirms the confession. The Major’s investigation leads to an unavoidable tragedy that no one inside or outside of the equation is prepared for.
JSA: Joint Security was shot by cinematographer Kim Seong-bok on 35 mm film (Eastman EXR 100T 5248, Kodak Vision 200T 5274, and Vision 500T 5279) using Arriflex 35-III and Arriflex 535 cameras with Zeiss Super Speed lenses, finished photochemically, and presented in the aspect ratio of 2.39:1. Umbrella Entertainment debuts the film on Ultra HD with a new 4K master, likely from the original camera negative, graded for High Dynamic Range in HDR10, and presented on a double-layered BD-66 disc. This release represents a substantial improvement over its Arrow Video Blu-ray counterpart, while not being entirely perfect. Despite being pressed onto a double-layered disc, compression is never an issue. Light grain is much more even-keeled, especially alongside the occasional CGI, while the encoding tends to be a tad erratic in spots. Bitrates primarily sit between 70 and 80Mbps, but they can drop and peak sporadically. The color palette is boosted enormously because of the HDR grade. The previous Blu-ray transfer appeared too bright, and the HDR10 grade deepens blacks and handles brighter moments much better, never appearing blown out or unnatural. Dolby Vision could improve things even more, especially in the darkest of moments, but the HDR10 is plenty adequate. The image is stable and mostly clean throughout, aside from minor speckling. The least appealing moments occur during optical title overlays and shots featuring CGI (almost entirely in some cases), which are softer than the rest of the presentation, but blend a little better here than they did in the past. It’s something that’s built-in, and also typical of films produced in the East during that era, of which the CGI had a particular look. There’s some wiggle room for improvement, but this UHD looks excellent nonetheless.
Audio includes a new Korean Dolby Atmos (7.1 Dolby TrueHD compatible) track, as well as tracks in Korean 5.1 and 2.0 Dolby Digital (the latter erroneously labeled as 2.1 on the main menu) with optional English subtitles. Sadly, the 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio and 2.0 LPCM tracks from the previous Blu-ray are missing in action. Nevertheless, the Dolby Atmos track is a fine compromise, offering much more spread and far more low end than its counterparts. Dialogue is obviously the main focus, but sound effects have more of a dramatic punch, and along with the score, spreads out beautifully into the surrounding speakers. Even the height channels are put to use. It’s worth noting that this is a soundtrack comprised of both English and Korean. The subtitles are not selected automatically when starting the film, and they only cover the Korean dialogue, meaning that moments of English dialogue have none.
The 4K Ultra HD Collector’s Edition release of JSA: Joint Security Area sits in a black Amaray case alongside a Region-Free Blu-ray and a double-sided poster, featuring an illustrated map of the DMZ by Will De Villiers on one side, and the still photograph that closes the film on the other. The insert features the original Korean theatrical poster artwork on both sides, but with a local ratings classification on the front. All of this is housed in a slipcover. Alongside this is a set of 8 art cards and a 52-page booklet featuring the essays Divided We Stand: Park Chan-wook’s Joint Security Area by Bastian Meirsonne, If One Dies the Other Does Too: The Shifting Perspectives of the Division Film by Hayley Scanlon, Secrets, Lies and Hidden Truths in the Images of Park Chan-wook’s JSA by Anton Bitel, photos of the various pieces of art created for this release by Will De Villiers, and a set of production credits. All of this is housed in a rigid slipcase, also featuring artwork by De Villiers. This web site exclusive is numbered, with only 1,000 units produced, but a standard edition featuring the same discs and the same slipcover is also available. The following disc-based content is included on both releases:
DISC ONE
- Audio Commentary with Park Chan-wook
- Audio Commentary with Park Chan-wook, Song Kang-ho, Lee Byeong-hun, Lee Yeong-ae, Kim Tae-woo, and Shin Ha-gyoon
DISC TWO
- Audio Commentary with Park Chan-wook
- Audio Commentary with Park Chan-wook, Song Kang-ho, Lee Byeong-hun, Lee Yeong-ae, Kim Tae-woo, and Shin Ha-gyoon
- The JSA Story (SD – 36:46)
- Making the Film (SD – 13:59)
- About JSA (SD – 2:18)
- Behind the Scenes Montage (SD – 14:34)
- Opening Ceremony Footage (SD – 3:03)
- Letter from a Private Music Video (SD – 4:49)
- Take the Power Back Music Video (SD – 4:00)
- Theatrical Trailer (SD – 2:12)
- TV Spot (SD – :32)
- 15th Anniversary Q&A Interview with Park Chan-wook (HD – 5:13)
- Behind the Scenes Still Gallery (HD – 117 in all – 7:48)
Both commentaries were recorded in or around 2003, one featuring director Park Chan-wook, and the other featuring Chan-wook and actors Song Kang-ho, Lee Byeong-hun, Lee Yeong-ae, Kim Tae-woo, and Shin Ha-gyoon. These tracks are in Korean, but English subtitles are provided. The next set of extras include vintage making-of featurettes and behind-the-scenes materials created not long after the film’s release. Next are two music videos for Letter from a Private by Kim Kwan-seok and Take the Power Back by Rage Against the Machine, as well as the Korean theatrical trailer and TV spot. Last is a 15th anniversary Q&A with Park Chan-wook, and a Behind the Scenes Still Gallery containing 117 production photos.
Not carried over from the Arrow Video Blu-ray release is an audio commentary by author Simon Ward, an isolated music and effects audio track in 2.0 DTS-HD Master Audio, the Stepping Over Boundaries interview with author Jasper Sharp, and an Image Gallery that contained 15 promotional photos and posters. That package also included a 24-page booklet containing the essay The Politics of Division in Joint Security Area by Kieran Fisher. Several DVD and Blu-ray releases from France, Germany, and South Korea also include a number of extras not featured here, including additional making-of documentaries and interviews, as well as the Japanese theatrical trailer, among other things. The biggest additions to this release that weren’t included on the Arrow release are the audio commentaries, giving this disc some edge.
Umbrella’s 4K UHD upgrade of JSA: Joint Security Area is a winner, whether you’re purchasing the Collector’s Edition or the standard edition. The former is a terrific package and belongs on your shelf if you’re a devoted Korean cinema and Park Chan-wook fan. Highly recommended.
- Tim Salmons
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